Family, friendship, and tolerance are the predominant themes of this novel. Teenage narrator James Patrick "JP" O'Brien reveals many dimensions of his personality as he relates how his family changed during the two years following his grandmother's unexpected death. JP belongs to an unusual family. He is the only child of a couple who seem unlikely parents because of their mental and physical limitations. When he is not in school, JP spends most of his time with his Grandma Mary whom he cherishes and unconditionally accepts.

JP has great aspirations for his life. Gifted with computers, he plans to earn the highest grades in his class to become valedictorian then study at Princeton University. JP is motivated to prove to his community that he is not like his mentally handicapped father. He feels remote from his parents who frequently embarrass and disappoint him. JP...